Date: Sun, 16 Jun 1996 14:05:47 +0100 (BST)
From: David Hollis <100660.1153-AT-CompuServe.COM> (by way of Chris Bailey <chrisbailey-AT-gn.apc.org>)
To: Multiple recipients of list <union-d-AT-wolfnet.com>
Subject: Bonn demo (on the spot report)


Background to the Protest 
------------------------

The CDU/CSU/FDP government plans:

* The sick should only get 80% of their wages in the first six
weeks of their illness or every day sick means one less day
holiday.

* The law protecting against wrongful dismissal is to changed so
that it only applies to companies with more than ten employees.

* As of the year 2002 whoever becomes pensioned at the age of 60
will get 18% less pension.

* The unemployed must in the future also take on jobs that do not
correspond to what they have learnt.  The net wages can be 20% less
than before, and after 3 months 30%.  The reduced-rate unemployment
benefit is to be cut back by 3% per year for every unemployed
person

				***************************


It was a long day.  The alarm clocks (!)  went off at 4:30 AM.
More asleep than awake we got out of bed and made the remaining
preparations for the trip to Bonn.  Coffee was made, the last
sandwiches as well and the rather large rucksack soon became full
of food, drinks, and toys for our daughter, Lea.  Just before 5.30
AM we rang the doorbell of our neighbours to see if they were
ready.  They were, too, and off we went.

In a certain sense we were relatively priviliged.  Others,
especially those from the eastern party of Germany started their
journey to Bonn already in the night at 1.00 AM.  We were also
lucky in another sense, we travelled on one of the 77 trains that
had been extra charted by the DGB.  Whoever did not travel by the
special trains went either in a normal train or in one of the 5400
chartered coaches.

Although we were at the station half an hour before it was due to
go, colleagues were already sitting in it and/or reserving places
for various firms.  Our train was chartered just for the colleagues
of the IGM, the Metal workers union.  Another train organised by the
DGB, left an hour later.  Given that we were travelling with our
daughter and according to the numbers received from the factories,
we expected the train to be more than full.  Right to the last
moment colleagues boarded the train.  It was a colourful picture:
various flags, both from the IGM and those made by the colleagues
themselves, many had stickers or badges on, the atmosphere was
pleasant.  The train left Nuremberg full.

Going though the train I got the impression that the travellers
were a very mixed bag.  Like ourselves, a number were travelling as
families, others had decided to leave their children at home or
only one of the parents was travelling.  The degree of mobilisation
was also very mixed.  Some firms, like my own, were not so well
represented, others had carriages for themselves.  As one would
expect, a few what I suspect were turkish colleagues showed how
enterprising they really are.  One pram, full of drinks was carted
onto the train to be sold.  Some also sold food.

The journey was over in just over four and a half hours - roughly
the same time as if one had travelled with an Inter City train.  We
got out and made our way to the Hofgarten, the park where the event
was to take place.  We were nether to be overseen nor overheard.
During the trip the IGM had distrubted caps and (loud) whistles.  I
was, as were others, a little disappointed that there was not to be
a proper march before the event itself but it soon became clear as
to why the DGB had organised in the way it had.

In Bonn there were 6 areas reserved for the coaches.  Given that
5400 chartered coaches were heading for Bonn, there were enough
colleagues underway for five massive demonstrations.  They came
too.  Right up to and during the event itself colleagues were
entering and marching to the park.  By 2pm, the start of the event,
the park and the areas around it were more than full.  As we
arrived in the park, we heard that already a number of the
motorways to Bonn were already full and nothing was moving any
more.

As we entered the park, it was at about 11.00 AM, the park must
have been about a third full.  Not only trade unions were present
but also other organisations like women's organisations, political
parties and students, although the overwhelming majority were
workers.  The DGB had built a large stage and a large screen was
hanging from two cranes in order that one could see from afar who
was speaking.  My colleague mumbled, "hopefully it wont be just a
festival."  His fears were shown to be almost right.  The afternoon
was split up into various cultural and political blocks.  First
came a number of rock bands.  After they had finished, the DGB
Chairman, Dieter Schulte, spoke.  Schulte was not particulary well
received.  At the beginning, and from time to time during his
speech he was booed by a number of the listeners or the colleagues
blew their whistles.  Only when he became more radical did the
colleagues show any sign of enthusiasm.  A lady Bishop who spoke
later got more applause for her reproach that the government wanted
to introduce a pure market economy.

The event was over in a little over two hours.  A number of us
caught up on our sleep on the way back.  A number with whom I
discussed with did not expect that the demonstration would change
the government's line.  On the next day Kohl, the Chancellor, is
still sticking to the government plans.  On the other hand the head
of the CDU's workers' organisation, Eppelmann, expects changes are
going to be made to the plans for when one can receive rent and the
cut-backs in wages when one is ill.

What now?  This is the most important question we are now faced
with.  Schulte promised the government a long hot summer if they go
through with their planes.  Despite the attempts of the media to
warn people from going to the demonstration in Bonn, 350,000 turned
up.  If the journey to Bonn had not been so long, undoubtedly a lot
more would have attended.  The feeling yesterday was that something
has got to be done.  The demonstration, which was without doubt the
biggest organised by the trade unions since the second world war,
showed that there is a need for more activities.  What is not
needed is a demonstration that was just to let off steam and
perhaps cajole the government and big business back to the
negotiating table.  Although large parts of the population still do
not believe it, at the end of the day the government and big
business will only change their ways if brute force is used.  It
will be interesting to see what happens in the next weeks and
months.  Schulte, like most trade union leaders, will only keep
his word if he is pushed.  The activists will have a lot of work to
do.  The demonstration indicated that discontent is there.  Turning
it into other activities will be no easy task.

LabourNet report by Dave Hollis
16/6/96

Labour movement organisations and publications are welcome to reproduce our
material, but we would like an acknowledgement. 


--_Turnpike_+bF(aC(IdU=0Arq?q43eflcMAilpwXypvV/vHU.W


-- 
Dave Backwith

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